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Jokes My Father Never Taught Me: Life, Love, and Loss with Richard Pryorx$0.01
  (19 reviews)
Best Price: $24.95 $0.01
This is a loving yet brutally honest memoir by the daughter of comedy legend Richard Pryor. Rain Pryor was born in the idealistic, free-love 1960s. Her mother was a Jewish go-go dancer who wanted a "tribe of rainbow children," and her father was Richard Pryor, perhaps the most compelling and brilliant comedian of his era. In this intimate, harrowing, and often hilarious memoir, Rain depicts a disturbing childhood in the shadow of her celebrated father. Rain's memoir is a complicated all-American tale. Her home life was infused with drugs and sex; at age eight she sat down to Thanksgiving dinner with the words, "Daddy, the whores need to be paid." "Jokes My Father Never Taught Me" is both lovingly told and painfully frank: the story of a girl who grew up adoring her father even as she feared him - and feared for him, as his drug problems grew worse. In 1980, he was nearly killed in a "revolutionary suicide attempt. And in his later years, as he succumbed to multiple sclerosis, Rain saw her father reduced to watching the Comedy Channel for hours on end. Rain Pryor's book gives an unprecedented look at the life of a legend of comedy, told by a daughter who both understood the genius and knew the man.
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Customer Reviews
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Couldn't put it down....
By A3P7R0L2TTL7QB on 2006-12-20
I can't remember the last book I read that made me laugh as well as cry. This is a good'un: a must have for any Richard Pryor fan. And if you weren't a Rain Pryor fan before, you will be after reading this. I am proud of Rain and she should be proud of herself. She really did her thing on this one. She didn't hold back, she let it all out. This book is not sugar-coated at all. She's brutally honest just like her dad.
This book was so moving to me because I can relate to Rain in several different ways. My father was also abusive. My father abused alcohol and drugs and went on violent rampages. My father also believed that money was equivalent to an apology or an expression of love. Rain recalled that a good solid hug would have been much better than a new car. I can definitely relate to that. My father also ended up wheel-chair bound and died from a debilitating disease (Parkinson's). It's not easy watching someone you love deteriorate like that no matter how bad of a parent they were. And like Rain, no matter what my father did, I still loved him very much.
I know Richard is looking down on her beaming with pride. While he never recovered from his troubled childhood, she did. And she did it with grace and a forgiving spirit. Bless her heart, with two unstable parents, it's amazing what's she's done with her life. Though she dabbled with alcohol and drugs, she never became an addict. She was also blessed to find a good husband unlike many daughters of abusive fathers. Hats off to you Rain!
This book is definitely a page-turner, as a matter of fact, I didn't put it down once I started reading it. I read the whole thing in one sitting. An easy read, this book is also filled with some really nice photos. And the photos are not only in the middle of the book, they're placed here and there throughout the book which is very nice. There's a touching photo of Rain and her father taking a nap together. She looks just like her dad and she's funny just like him too.
This book also revealed Jennifer Lee's true colors. Jennifer was Richard's last wife, wife #5 and wife#7. I was convinced she really loved Richard, had forgiven him for the way he'd treated her and wanted to take care of him in his time of need. That would explain her marrying him when he was wheel-chair bound, nearly in a vegetative state and dependent on her for his survival, right? WRONG! She had dollar signs written all over her. I once admired her for trying to keep some dollars coming in for Richard. She helped to get his TV show released on DVD, she helped put together his 9 CD box set and she also appeared on his Comedy Central Special, "I Ain't Dead Yet." But I guess I didn't stop to think that by being his wife/caretaker, she got to cash some chips in too for herself. She did a good job handling Richard's business affairs but she was wrong for keeping him away from his children. She also had him change his will shortly before he died which left the bulk of his estate to her. Now I'm not saying she shouldn't have gotten anything, but she shouldn't get everything. Richard's daughter Elizabeth is contesting this in court. I hope she wins. Shame on you Jennifer.
If you're a fan of Richard or Rain, you won't be disappointed with this one. Rain has a beautiful spirit and like her father, she has a special way of touching people with her words. You go Rain!
Similar and Different from Rebecca Walker
By A3MWYPZBKL1NJ on 2006-11-30
Rain Pryor must have said to herself, "If Rebecca Walker can write a book, then so can I!" Both Rain and Rebecca are Black, Jewish women. They are both the children of a famous person and of a divorced family. Rain describes Richard Pryor's abuse and addiction; Rebecca describes Alice Walker's naive negligence. However, Rebecca's memoir is serious and "high" in nature; Rain's is a text that anyone can pick up and speed through. Rebecca only includes a photo of herself on the cover of her book; Rain is shown with her father. Rebecca's book has no other photos; Rain's is filled with them and that makes for its page-turning nature. Rebecca centers herself whereas Rain speaks of her father 85% of the time. Rebecca ends her book when she finishes high school; Rain describes her life until her father's death. (Rebecca goes on to Yale and Rain suggests she never went to college.) Though the two books have different aims, they are worthy in their own ways.
Rain admits that she is an actress and not a writer. She is no Toni Morrison, but her words and experiences are still valuable, entertaining, and insightful. Rain says despite being on "Head of the Class," she ended up doing construction work and Miss Cleo-like telephone service. This reminds me of how Eric Estrada said he struggled after "C.H.I.P.S." and Bob Crane went downhill after "Hogan's Heroes." Hollywood is fleeting, despite the Julia Roberts and Will Smiths on the screen.
As much as domestic abuse makes people cringe, this book was scant on the extent of Richard Pryor's nastiness. The film "What's Love Got to Do with It?" suggests that Ms. Turner went into detail about how Ike mistreated in "I, Tina." Rain just says, "He abused me" and later in the book she mentions one instance of being hit. I think people may have a better view of Richard's being a hot mess if she said more. Rain repeats, "He's the only father I had, so I love him regardless." I think may abused children will relate. She also said her own marriage was rocky, soon after it started. She never answers whether she and her husband divorced. She never questions whether her father's numerous unstable marriages affected her own.
On Point Book
By A9Q28YTLYREO7 on 2006-12-04
Richard Pryor for me like so many other people truly moved me with His Comic genius&timing on situations. I mean He was a Voice of the community&also a Man who was direct&vulnerable. that Honesty in his routines was what made him stand out so much. but this Book shows the other side once the lights went down on the stage&there was no Audience what Family Life was like for Rain&Her Father Richard. she saw first hand all the Demons He dealt with. she expereinced things that while in front of a Crowd was a delievery of Genius, in a Private atmosphere it could haunt you&make you feel Saddness.Rain is half Black&Jewish&she also was dealing with Race as a Young woman coming into her own. this Book touches on many topics&Subject matters. a very strogn Book&also has Photos over the years with Rain&Her Father.
Life with Pryor ain't no joke !
By A2ZM422WOJBJ0Q on 2006-11-28
Rain Pryor's book was hard to put down. As intimate as it was, I wanted even more details of her life, and I wanted to book to be longer. She inherited her Fathers incredible sence of humor, which I could not get enough of. Her strength and forgivness amazing me though. How can you forgive two Parents that were totally abusive in everyway ? Its tough, and Rain is one tough cookie ! In her book she describes Mamma , Richard Pryors Grandmother as teaching her that "Your Daddy beats you cuz he loves you" "Get over it" And she calls this good advice, was she serious or sarcastic ? I think accepting this kind of child abuse, perpetuates it.This scene was after Rain was sexually molested my a relative, and good ol' Richard stepped in to beat the hell out of Rain, for being molested ! "To teach her a lesson for flaunting her stuff " Richard Pryor being raised in a whorehouse run by this Mamma, he himself only saw sex and whoppin's, he had no chance. It fueled his true comic genius, sure, But, when is all this abuse going to stop? especially in the Black community, were Black comics think child Whoppin's are just hilarious? I see it everyday. Rain said "you have to let go", I agree, but until child abuse can be seen for what it is, Parents are going to get away with it, for cultural reasons. Rains Mother was the Mother from hell also, but she tried and admitted to Rain that she was "messed up" and on Richards death bed she told him Rain was the best we ever created, Rain heard this and it really helped her. Also one day close to the end Richard told Rain that he was so sorry for everything he put Rain through, and touchingly gave her, as an adult, a Teddy bear, his way of making amends.
Not the book it could have been
By A26C5KNU4LT5QN on 2007-02-20
I remember watching Johnny Carson (The Tonight Show) when Richard Pryor came on and talked about his "freebasing accident." The thing I remember most was Pryor indicating how surprised and loved he felt at the outpouring of support and concern he received from fans. He seemed a humble and likeable man. This man does not appear in Rain Pryor's book.
I have to say, it didn't take reading very far into this book to have no feelings of respect for the Richard Pryor she portrays. He was a brilliant comic, but, according to his daughter, he was a lousy human being. He brutalized women on a regular basis (including her). He was an absolutely horrible father. He abused drugs and alcohol. What is amazing to me is Rain's continued professions of love for him throughout the book.
I was raised in a family where my step-father was an alcoholic. He was occasionally violent. My mother was a classic enabler. Once I left home, I got a lot of therapy. I was able to admit to myself that I didn't like either of my parents. They didn't deserve my love. I took care of my mother in her old age, but I had no delusions about her being a good person. For these reasons, I have real trouble following Rain's rationalizations about her father, her constantly saying, "he was despicable but I still loved him." Maybe she is actually harboring some unresolved ill feelings about him, however, because she put some really awful, even embarrassing pictures from the end of his life in this book. Shame on her co-writer and shame on her editors for allowing it.
As far as the book itself goes, it is not well written. This Cathy Crimmins, who helped Rain write the book, should be hiding her head. The book is repetitious. It has editing errors. It is often self-indulgent. It is essentially a one note samba: my parents didn't give me enough love. I kept the copy I had in the bathroom, where I could read it in little snippets. That's about all I could take.
I think for a view of some of Richard Pryor's life it has some interest. I also think it is a great example of someone who went through life thinking only of himself and someone who had no clue how to love anyone else. I wish it had been less of a breathless Hollywood tell-all, however. It would have served both Richard and Rain better if it had delved more deeply into either or both of their characters.
- Let's review the book and not the black community
By A2T8QA2SPCDLIF on 2006-11-29
Response to C. M. Serrano comments:
Rain Pryor's book is one that pulls no punches. What is good about the book is that it is from the heart. Many times when stories are told, people seem to beat around the bush. "Beating around the bush" only avoids what there. I agree with you that child abuse is a serious issue; but I don't agree with you one hundred percent. The words "child abuse" needs to be revaluated. In Rain's case defiantly over done (Yes, I agree that Rain was abuse). Child abuse is not only in the black community. Child abuse doesn't go by race. The black comics make jokes about whopping a child, but let's be honest the white community can throw some good punches. It true- it has been caught on tape. Nothing like punching a toddler that strapped in a car set. That wasn't funny either. Bottom line; stop blaming the whole black community and save the word "child abuse" for cases that are actually are child abuse.
If you read Rain's book and look at what she has become, it should inspire anyone that has been through something. If you hold on to that terrible experience for the rest of your life, it will spill over and affect everyone around you. I am not saying to forget it; "but you have to let go". Once you let go, it will open the doors to a lot of other things. Rain's life is an example of that.
- Surprisingly good!
By A1DF21PMY6VRXC on 2007-01-09
Without even taking into account the quality of most "offspring of celebrity" books, this was a very good read! It was touching and insightful, not just a wild and shocking account of Richard's life. (which by all accounts would have filled a book easily) I would recommend it for anyone who likes entertainment/show business memoirs.
- jokes my father never taught me rain pryor
By A36XCCLA93FXR1 on 2007-01-05
ordered book 12/12/06 have not received it as of 1/4/07
- Not what I had expected
By AGWFWUZFCIV3U on 2007-01-10
I was very interested in reading Rain Pryor's review of her life with her father. Although I felt her account of their life was accurate, I did not think her rendition as a storyteller was compelling enough to read the entire book. I did put it down and leafed through the pages, as if looking for research material, to try to get to the heart of it. Unfortunately, it did not take me there.
- No Jokes But This Is The Story of a Survivor
By A21TLF5B488LU3 on 2007-01-22
Frankly I could care less about the children of stars. But Rain Pryor and her co-author Cathy Crimmins have created a true voice---the voice of a survivor. This is a story that is heartbreaking and yet in the end heart lifting. Bravo to Rain for finding her true self while being surrounded by adults who had less sense than children they were "raising".
It's a shame that Rain's mother couldn't open up more and give her authentic story to Rain. Because she didn't this book becomes the story of a heartbroken defenseless girl who never really gets true authentic consistent love from anyone. She tries to commit suicide and her father buys her a Nissan? Hello? (That would be a great scene in a movie)
I love when Rain's mother is upset about the stares that Rain gets as a child and wishes she were wearing a T-shirt that says, Yes, I f----d a black man. And I absolutely love when Rain says to her father, "Daddy, the whores have to be paid." (A truly great movie scene)
I wish Rain had had more of a backstage/offstage anecdotal life with her father. (I kept waiting for her to describe being on a movie set with him) Her father was a great artist who was messed up so often on drugs and booze and still created a unique body of work.
From the little window Rain has on her life with Richard I can see that a movie biography of him could be sensational. Here is a trailblazing hip cool comic who behind closed doors abused himself and physically and mentally abused everyone around him. Especially women and children. The scene of him shredding that early film that Rain's mother inspired him to make is just pathetic. And yet it's amazing that he destroyed his "first" film but then went on to be the most successful black film actor until Denzel Washington or Wil Smith.
- Appreciate that the book was published, but-
By A3DUNRFP1JSCIX on 2007-01-26
it did get repetitive in places. Some timelines/and events were not consistent, and there were some typos that unfortunitely were overlooked. Aside from all of that, Rain does appear to be writing from the heart. Her father, and his side of the family, consisting of ex-wives, ex-girlfriends, and many half-sibblings is so disfunctional, but they seem to be finding their way. Rain is very lucky to draw upon her maternal grandparents, that have been such a stable family for her. Also, what Jennifer Lee did the last few years of Richard Pryor's life is inexcusable, and she had no business marrying a man that was in such an extreme invalid state, that he couldn't even communicate clearly for himself. Sad.
- Waste of money
By A18QPSTBF81NKR on 2007-01-28
I am an avid reader and this was by far, one of the worst books I have ever read. It was so bad that I struggled to finish this book. Rain Pryor spent pages continuing to write about her horrible childhood spending a lot of time in Hawaii and being treated like royalty. Give me a break! It was repetitious and boring.
I was appalled at some of the pictures that Ms. Pryor used of her father toward the end of his life. It was incredibly sensationalized at best and an embarrassment to the memory of Richard Pryor. This was nothing short of a way to exploit a celebrity.
- Very good book
By A3MCYCCP8755EO on 2007-02-02
This book was done very well. I enjoyed learning new things about the late Richard Pryor and finding out new things about his daughter Rain whom, I really didn't know much about.
Thank you.
- Sometimes hard to read, but interesting throughout
By A2C5VLIJMDPWHI on 2007-03-21
Cons: From the end of the book, I'm pretty sure the author expected me to have this newfound respect for Richard Pryor, but instead, I felt indifference. It's disrespectful to say that about the deceased, but this book gave so many examples of Richard Pryor beating women, abusing his children, cursing at toddlers, and cheating. Those are four things I don't dig and they were pointed out repeatedly throughout the memoirs. Instead of wanting to know more about Richard Pryor, I found myself wanting to know less. There were some photos of Richard Pryor with his mouth wide open and looking sick; if I were him, I wouldn't be too thrilled to have those in a book for all to see.
There were also some unnecessary spots, like the journal entries with all of the misspellings. They did nothing to help with the growth of the book. The dialogue with her during her "Fried Chicken..." performances were unnecessary for a reader considering everything in it was already explained in detail throughout the book, so it was like rereading the book again. I was glad those didn't last too long.
Pros: I didn't know much about Richard Pryor before I read this book, besides knowing he was a controversial comic who used the n-word excessively and talked about sex a lot. This is why I picked up the book. I was interested in learning more about him because I know a couple people who are fans of his. Even though there was a lot of bad childhood memories, it was interesting to hear his daughter's take on the situation. And I was too excited when I figured out why she looked so familiar to me. I remember her from "Head of the Class" with the forever pouty lips and wild hair. The pictures were great to look at and she definitely made me rethink wishing I had curly hair. I enjoyed getting a better feel for how it was to grow up as the child of a comedian, who obviously didn't always want to be funny. I'm actually relieved that she made it through such a tough situation and I wish her the best of luck with her future in acting.
- Moving and Loving Tribute
By A3SYMLB8JSW5VD on 2007-04-11
I enjoyed this novel for its honesty and moving tribute to a man deeply loved but flawed man. I think nobody could do it better than his daughter Rain Pryor. Some of the accounts are disturbing but still she pulls no punches about his absent and lack of love affect her even more so from her mother who in her own way tried but fail.
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